OF ALL the amazing developments in the war in the Near East the
most amazing is the news that the Turks have walked back into
Adrianople, while the Bulgarian defenders appear to have walked out
of the city with nothing more than a mere show of resistance. Even
more serious, perhaps, is the report that Turkey, in order to
release herself from treaty obligations, has declared war against
Bulgaria, and is preparing to march upon Sofia. This pro- ceeding,
if it is truly reported, is a clear defiance of the warning given
to Turkey by Mr Asquith in his speech at Birmingham, where he said
that, unless Turkey complied with the demands of the Concert, she
would be raising questions that had been better left at rest.
Perhaps she discounted our Prime Minister's language as a merely
idle threat. It would be indeed a queer consequence of her renewed
war with Bulgaria if it threw the latter into the arms of Servia
and Greece, who are said to be prepared to resume their broken
alliance. Yet, strange to say, in spite of these singular
developments, the prospects of peace are declared to be
brightening. One thing, however, seems to become clearer every day
- namely, that the Powers, though they continue to issue to the
belligerents commands which they have no intention to enforce, mean
to keep the peace among themselves if they possibly can, and to
leave the Balkan States to settle the Balkan question.